Chapter 22: Auld Acquaintance

                                    

                                          
Washington, D.C December
31, 00:16 EST No One's Pov 
In a subway tunnel under the National Mall, Red Arrow is pursued by Flash, Green Arrow and Aquaman. He is clearly outmatched: his former mentor knocks him down with an explosive arrow, Flash punches him at super speed, and he breaks his bow when attacking Aquaman with it. A passing train distracts his assailants long enough for him to escape via a small drainage pipe.
Mount Justice, December 31, 07:16 EST
"We have reason to feel proud of yesterday's victory," Aqualad said as the team approached the main room of the cave. "But one thing has not changed."
"Somehow the bad guys are still getting intel on us," Robin said as the team join Batman and Red Tornado.
"Yeah, but at least we know none of us are the mole," Kid Flash said, trying to remain positive.
"You're correct," Batman said as he brought up an image of Red Arrow, "The mole was Red Arrow."
Kai blinked in surprise. "I didn't see that coming, though I suppose it does make sense," Kai mused, "Red Arrow wasn't a member of the team until recently so he's least likely to be thought as a suspect, but I'm sure Kaldur, Wally and Robin have been telling him all about or missions and all the while the team is ripping itself apart looking for a traitor.'
If Kai was surprised then the three original protégés were shell shocked. "Roy," Robin asked, clearly confused by this turn of events.
"No way," Kid Flash protested.
"Batman that cannot be," Aqualad protested, pleading that this was some sort of mistake, that one of his closest friend wasn't a traitor. "He was Green Arrow's protégé, we have known him for years."
"Unfortunately the Roy Harper we have all known for the last three years is another Project Cadmus clone," Red Tornado explained as then an image of the new Cadmus building appeared, giving us its stats before an image of the original Speedy appeared next to Red Arrow's.
"We learned that the real Speedy was abducted and
replaced immediately after becoming Green Arrow's sidekick," Batman said before continuing. "The clone was preprogramed with a drive to join the Justice League. Which is why he was so angry over any delays to his admission, and why he refused to join the team. This Roy Harper had no idea he was a clone, or a traitor and his subconscious programing drove him to become League worthy. So he struck out on his own as Red Arrow. When he was finally admitted his secondary programming kicked in and he attempted to betray the League to Vandal Savage. Fortunately I had already deduced that Red Arrow was a clone- we were prepared."
Superboy looked at the ground uncomfortably, "If you guys haven't rescued me from Cadmus..." He trailed off, a look of deep unease on his face.
"W-What happened to the real Roy," Robin asked. He had already guessed the answer, but he didn't want to have to say it out loud.
"We don't know. He isn't at Cadmus. We have to face the possibility that the real Roy Harper is dead," Batman said.
Kid Flash and Robin looked at the ground solemnly, their excitement of their recent victory over the Light crushed by the knowledge that one of their closest friends may be dead and the friend they had known a trusted for years was actually a sleeper agent felt .
Then Aqualad looked Batman directly in the eyes. "The clone Roy, the team will find him," He said, a cold anger coloring his voice.
"Negative," Batman ordered, "Red Arrow is a member of the Justice League now leave him to us." Batman tapped his communicator listening to an incoming message. "I'm needed on the Watchtower, Tornado stay with the kids," Batman ordered the red android as he entered the Zeta Tube.